Re-charging pack for an e-cigarette

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a pack for holding and re-charging an e-cigarette. The pack comprises a pack battery; a body portion including a tube for receiving an e-cigarette; a re-charging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette received into the tube using the pack battery; and a lid attached to the body portion. The lid can be opened to allow the e-cigarette to be received into the tube, and closed to retain the e-cigarette in the tube. The pack is configured to transition from a higher power state to a lower power state a predetermined period of time after the lid is opened and before the lid has been shut.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pack for holding and re-charging an e-cigarette, the pack comprising:
 a pack battery; 
 a body portion; 
 a tube for receiving the e-cigarette, wherein the tube is sized to receive a single e-cigarette; 
 a connector interface for re-charging the pack battery from an external power supply; and 
 a lid attached to the body portion, wherein the lid can be opened to allow the e-cigarette to be received into the tube, and closed to retain the e-cigarette in the tube; and 
 a re-charging system for re-charging the e-cigarette received into the tube using the pack battery, the re-charging system comprising one of a coil which is coaxial with the tube such that the coil forms a collar or sleeve around the tube to perform induction charging of the e-cigarette, or an electrical contact at a base of the tube, the base configured to close off an end of the tube, to provide a wired power supply for the e-cigarette or a portion thereof inserted into the tube, wherein the electrical contact forms a wired connection between the pack and the e-cigarette or the portion thereof inserted into the tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the tube can accommodate a fully assembled e-cigarette. 
     
     
       3. The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch which is activated by the lid opening or closing. 
     
     
       4. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack includes one or more lights for indicating a charge status of the pack battery. 
     
     
       5. The pack of  claim 4 , wherein the pack is configured to illuminate the one or more lights to indicate the charge status of the pack battery when the lid is opened. 
     
     
       6. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack includes at least one light for indicating a charge status of an e-cigarette contained in the tube. 
     
     
       7. The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the pack is configured to illuminate the at least one light to indicate the charge status of the e-cigarette when the lid is opened. 
     
     
       8. The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the charge status is used to indicate a level of charge of the e-cigarette intermediate between empty and full. 
     
     
       9. The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the charge status is used to indicate whether or not the e-cigarette battery is fully charged. 
     
     
       10. The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the charge status is used to indicate whether or not the pack is currently charging the e-cigarette battery. 
     
     
       11. The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the charge status is used to indicate an error condition. 
     
     
       12. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack is configured to determine a charge status of the pack battery by monitoring an effective loading on a charging circuit of the re-charging system. 
     
     
       13. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack is configured to determine a charge status of the pack battery by receiving a communication from the e-cigarette. 
     
     
       14. The pack of  claim 13  wherein the communication is provided over a data or control line for a wired connection. 
     
     
       15. The pack of  claim 13 , wherein the communication is provided over a wireless communication link. 
     
     
       16. The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring temperature and a control system for detecting over-heating of the pack or the e-cigarette if a temperature measured by the temperature sensor is above a threshold temperature. 
     
     
       17. The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack is configured to detect whether an e-cigarette is located in the tube. 
     
     
       18. The pack of  claim 17 , wherein the pack is configured to re-charge the e-cigarette upon detecting that the e-cigarette is located in the tube and the lid is closed.